What to See
Mauritius is an island of breathtaking natural beauty. It is also a country rich in historic sites and cultural attractions. While many tropical islands offer you little to do beyond the beach, on Mauritius it’s hard to decide what to see and do next.
The island is surrounded by coral reefs, palm-fringed beaches and safe, shallow lagoons. Mauritius was formed by a range of now long dormant volcanoes which have left their ravishing mark on the interior – a wilderness of jagged peaks, deep gorges, crater lakes and dramatic waterfalls. The highest falls, tumbling 100m over a sheer rock face, are at Chamarel, which is also famed for its undulating landscape of extraordinary coloured earths and only a short drive from Emerald Heights.
Famed as the island where the dodo became extinct, Mauritius is taking care to protect its remaining precious habitats. Another few miles from the doorsteps of Emerald Heights is the Black River Gorge National Park, which offers wonderful hiking trails through tropical forests, where you can see native plants and rare birds, and enjoy panoramic views from the island’s highest peak. The Ile aux Aigrettes National Reserve is home to the extremely rare Mauritian kestrel and the Aldabra giant tortoise. And the Pamplemousse Botanic Gardens, one of the oldest in the world, contain over 800 species of rare plants, including the giant water lily.
Vieux Grand Port is the oldest Dutch settlement in Mauritius, dating from 1598. French colonial houses, churches and fortresses can still be seen across the island, which also boasts some exceptional Hindu and Tamil temples. In the north, L’Aventure du Sucre tells the fascinating story of Mauritius and the sugar cane industry that transformed it.
Modern Mauritius is most evident in the capital city of Port Louis, with its high rise waterfront shopping boutiques and thriving financial districts.
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